SPRINGFIELD – The Rev. Calvin J. McFadden Sr. will be officially installed as the pastor of St. John’s Congregational Church on March 27 at 3 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall.

Florida Bishop Victor T. Curry of Miami will be guest speaker.

The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., who served as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago from 1972 to 2008 where the congregants included the future President Barack Obama, will deliver the keynote address at a black tie installation gala at 5:30 p.m. on March 25 at Chez Josef in Agawam. He has spoken previously in the area.

“I am delighted and honored to serve as the 13th senior pastor of St. John’s Congregational Church,” said McFadden who accepted the position in August.

“It is upon the shoulders of the church’s previous leadership that I stand and their faith and hope that will strengthen us for the bright future that is ahead of us.

McFadden, who has said his favorite part of ministry is preaching and sharing with people, came to Springfield from Warner Robins Ga., with his wife, Jamina M. Scippio- McFadden, an on-line assistant professor of mass communication and journalism at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga., and their children, Catherine Yolanda, and Calvin "Jerome" II.

He served as executive pastor of the Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Fla.

In 1998, he was appointed to launch the first African American United Methodist Church in Tallahassee.

Under his leadership, Ray of Hope Church grew from five people to more than 1,000.

He also started the non-denominational Community of Faith Church in Tallahassee.

He has worked as an assistant professor of sociology at Florida A & M University and as an instructor of marriage and the family at Florida State University.

St. John’s Congregational Church is one of the oldest and active Black Churches in New England, founded in 1844 by anti-slave protesters.

It is an urban church of about 2,000 members and with more than 40 ministries, including a daily food pantry and seven active choirs.

The installation gala is being described as an evening of spiritual reflection, community fellowship and a touch of humor with Christian comedian “Bone” Hampton, serving as master of ceremonies.

Keynote speaker Wright was the center of much controversy during the Obama campaign for remarks about the American government's responsibility regarding the Sept. 11 attacks and about issues like the spread of AIDS among African Americans.

While Obama came to distance himself from Wright because of such remarks, his book, "The Audacity of Hope," was said to be inspired by one of Wright's sermons.

Wright later told the New York Times the difference between the two is that Obama is "a politician, I’m a pastor."

“We speak to two different audiences. And he says what he has to say as a politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they’re two different worlds.”

Tickets for the gala are $50, and can be purchased at St. John’s, 643 Union St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, St. John’s will host an assembly of nationally recognized pastors as guest preachers every Thursday at 7 p.m. throughout March.

Preachers scheduled include:

Rev. Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church in Atlanta, Ga. on March 10.

The Rev. John Guns of St. Paul Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. on March 17

Rev. William Holmes Robinson of 2nd Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. on March 24.